LIAM COOPER says Leeds’ team spirit is keeping them in with a chance of automatic promotion.

Cooper, who made a surprise return to Garry Monk’s team in place of the dropped Pontus Jansson, played a key role in the defeat of second-placed Brighton at Elland Road.

“We wanted it more in the end and the team spirit is unbelievable,” he said. “It is one of the best I have been involved in. To a man, we are there for each other and it is great to be part of.

“We spoke before the game and said that we owed them [Brighton] one. We got a bad result there and it hurt us and we wanted to go out and get the three points back and we did everything we could and we came away with it.”

Centre-forward Chris Wood was once again the difference for Leeds as the New Zealand international scored twice to take his league tally to 24 and hand Brighton their third loss in the last five matches.

Cooper said: “We have always got a chance with Chris. If Chris gets a chance, he is going to take it and for a team to have that confidence in him is unbelievable.

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Chris Wood's double put Brighton to the sword

“We have just got to stay switched on at the back and we were very good. Chris is always going to get us a goal.”

Brighton striker Glenn Murray insisted confidence remains high on the south coast.

“It was just one of those games where it wasn’t our day but we take heart from the results around us because it’s one less game and we are in the same position,” he said.

“The only disappointing thing is that we have a two-week break off the back of a defeat. You would like a game to put it right straight away but we’ve got to rest and to recuperate with two big home games to come.

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Tomasz Kuszczak stopped Newcastle from beating Birmingham

“We are still as hungry as ever and our aim is to get into that top two. Our home form has been excellent and we perform a bit better home, no games are a given but we have got to be on it in these two games to come at home.”

Newcastle moved a point clear at the top, denied victory at Birmingham by a controversial offside ruling and the brilliance of goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

Matt Ritchie appeared to have a perfectly good goal disallowed and was also one of Newcastle’s players to be thwarted by the outstanding Kuszczak.

“It was an incorrect decision for sure,” said the Scotland international. “I thought if anything I was behind him, but at the very least, I was level and gambled with the follow-up. So it was disappointing it wasn’t allowed to stand.”